Why do you support West Ham?

Why do I support West Ham? It’s a question I’ve often had to ask myself (the 5-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest and 6-0 reverse at Manchester City being one recent time) and I’m sure fellow Hammers have done likewise in the past.

When I take a trip down memory lane, I’ll always remember having a season ticket when Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole and Michael Carrick were learning their trade at Upton Park. Life felt pretty good back then.

But hang on, this is West Ham we’re talking about and with every high comes a gut-wrenching, kick you in the balls, low point.

That low came, for me, when Ferdinand was sold to Leeds United. It came as a real crushing blow to a young Hammers fan as West Ham sold their prized possession to help fund a stand at the Boleyn. I couldn’t believe he had gone, why we had sold him and why he would want to leave East London.

What I probably didn’t realise during those heady teenage years, was that experience toughened me up for life as an Irons supporter. There was plenty more of that to come.

The real reason I began supporting West Ham was exactly the same as thousands of others, I’ve no doubt. My dad is a Hammer who brought me up on a strict diet of claret and blue.

He educated me with the wonders of Alan Devonshire – his favourite player – and the likes of Tony Cottee, Alan Dickens and Frank McAvennie.

Growing up, I longed to go with him on a trip to Upton Park to savour the atmosphere, see my heroes up close and be among a crowd watching a club that was to become an important part of my life.

There’s truly something special about going to watch a game at Upton Park – I know it’s not the same as it once was, blah, blah, blah – but going to watch my club over the years has been a real joy. I’ve also been lucky enough to watch some special games under the lights and seen the likes of Paolo Di Canio, Ferdinand, Carrick, Lampard, Cole, Julian Dicks and Tony Cottee on the hallowed turf. There’s a real sense of tradition, history and character which is going to be lost when we move to the Olympic Stadium.

I also had a season ticket during the one of many great escapes of recent times; the 1996-1997 season when the strike partnership of Paul Kitson and John Hartson saved the Hammers.

That season probably sums up what it’s like to be a West Ham fan. It started off with great hope, as all seasons do, but quickly became apparent we were going to struggle. We were without a striker, only the hard-working Iain Dowie, and were bottom at the end of January with just a point in six games since Christmas. Hartson and Kitson signed and hit the ground running as both scored in a seven-goal thriller against Spurs. The duo went on to score 12 in 13 games to keep West Ham up. We went from the depths of despair to a bare-knuckle rollercoaster ride.

Horrible lows interspersed by huge highs. And that’s what supporting West Ham is all about.

We’re a fiercely loyal bunch that will defend our club to the hilt and follow them over land or sea, in Premiership or Championship, but always knowing there’s something exciting around the corner.

So why do I support West Ham? Because simply it’s a way of life. Ups and downs, tears and laughter. It’s got it all and I wouldn’t change it for the world.